Munitions Empire

Chapter 2014: Department Reforms of 1878

In the capital of the Great Tang Empire, Chang’an, the inner courtyard of the Forbidden City shines brilliantly. The golden rooftops of the palaces glisten in the sunlight, like a string of resplendent jewels set against the azure skies.

The Imperial Guards, dressed in immaculate military attire, stand tall at their respective posts. Their posture resembles intricately carved statues, unwavering and fearless, showcasing the might and confidence of the Tang Army.

Whenever a gentle breeze blows, the various medals hanging on the chests of the Imperial Guards make a crisp sound, as if proclaiming the Royal Family’s strength and glory.

And in the solemn plaza, the Dragon Banner, symbolizing the supreme authority of the Great Tang Empire, waves in the wind. Its vibrant red and gold colors gleam brightly in the sunlight, catching the eyes of all.

As a totem personally designed by His Majesty The Emperor, the dragon image holds a supreme position in the Empire’s history and culture. It is not only carved on palace beams and columns, and in luxurious murals, but also ubiquitously present in royal items and ceremonies, constantly showcasing the majesty and glory of the Royal Family, filling hearts with awe, as though the dragon’s radiance could dispel all shadows, safeguarding the peace of this land and its people.

Golden sunlight streams through the tall floor-to-ceiling windows of the conference room, casting on the redwood conference table and reflecting the exquisite teacups placed upon it, scattering glints of light. Nangong Hong’s mood is as radiant as this sunlight, a hint of a smile unconsciously gracing his lips.

Your Majesty has fulfilled all his ambitions, and the Great Tang Empire has finally unified the entire world! As the chief in charge of diplomacy, he has finally reached the pinnacle of power. He knows this is not the end; Your Majesty has already promised him the future position of Prime Minister. Thinking of this, his smile deepens, as if he already sees himself sitting on the Prime Minister’s throne, directing the country and wielding authority with ease.

The elderly Chu Muzhou, with increasingly frequent bouts of coughing, represents, in Nangong Hong’s eyes, nothing but the helpless struggle of someone in twilight years. Soon, he will retire as Vice Imperial Chancellor, taking with him a life of honors to enjoy his old age.

With these thoughts in mind, Nangong Hong gently coughs, clearing his throat, and begins today’s speech in a lively, cheerful tone, "Negotiations with Dorne have concluded satisfactorily, and Count Dorne will soon, like Duke Nanla, take a ship to Linshui."

He pauses for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the gathered ministers, a hint of jest in his tone, "Your Majesty, if you truly have a penchant for collecting abdicated emperors, then soon, all these former emperors will have to bow before you."

No sooner had he spoken than a burst of hearty laughter erupted in the conference room, with ministers chiming in, creating a relaxed and lively atmosphere. Tang Mo waved his hand with a smile, responding, "No, of course, I don’t have such an odd hobby."

He was recently occupied with restructuring the empire’s framework; many past departments are no longer suited to the new situation. Staring out the window, his gaze profound, his thoughts were innumerable.

His first consideration was the diplomatic system, which in the now globally unified Great Tang Empire, has virtually lost its function. The diplomatic system led by Nangong Hong and Jiang Run is also about to face significant transformation. Next, he thought of the customs system responsible for imports and exports, which, under the new unified imperial circumstances, also requires extensive reform to meet new demands.

Of course, the Great Tang Empire no longer needs exports; it already controls everything in this world, rendering customs unnecessary. Perhaps they will exist a while longer to serve regional trade, but essentially they are entirely different, with responsibilities unrelated to the past.

The power of some departments will inevitably shrink, while others will expand with the empire’s territorial expansion. The scene of the Ministry of Internal Affairs flashed in his mind, its power bloated to alarming levels in the absence of external affairs.

Meanwhile, the military is also concerned about its future. Does the empire’s unification mean a reduction in military size? Will the Tang Empire’s military technology stagnate due to a lack of external competition? These are significant issues involving military-industrial groups and military interests, and any mishandling could trigger massive turmoil. This added a bit of pressure on him; he knew he must handle these matters carefully to ensure the empire’s stability and prosperity.

Tang Mo’s mind raced like precise gears interlocking, attempting to construct a vast and stable imperial framework. He understood that this newborn huge empire, like an infant, is fragile though full of infinite possibilities.

He must devise an effective set of rules to ensure its healthy growth, enduring for at least the foreseeable future centuries, maintaining stable operation, possibly even flourishing.

This set of rules must be detailed, balanced, and considerate of all aspects of the empire. He must maintain balance like a tightrope walker, ensuring the empire’s stability while promoting its development.

Firstly, he must consider the interests of all departments. The empire’s departments, like the body’s organs, are indispensable. He needs to redistribute resources and power, ensuring each department’s satisfaction, keeping them centered around the Royal Family, becoming its most steadfast supporters, safeguarding its authority and status.

With his current prestige and power, he could almost act at will. Even if he announced the disbanding of the military, no one would dare to oppose publicly. However, he cannot only consider the present; he must think of future generations, plan for the Tang Dynasty’s perpetuity, even if perpetuity is but an ephemeral wish.

Every emperor bears such a mission, though history repeatedly shows such efforts are mostly futile. No dynasty can last forever, nor any imperial power be truly eternal. Tang Mo understood this, yet still, he wanted to try his best.

He knew that to extend the Great Tang Dynasty’s rule, he must learn to decentralize power. Perhaps a constitutional monarchy is a good choice to reduce those wishing to overthrow the Royal Family.

However, decentralizing power inherently involves risk, implying a relinquishment of some power. In this peak moment, this choice appears foolish to outsiders. Tang Mo certainly would not immediately relinquish power, but he must be prepared, considering the possibility that his descendants might not hold on to power.

He must find a delicate balance between centralization and decentralization, ensuring the Royal Family’s authority while satisfying other forces, thus maintaining the empire’s long-term stability.

In short, the entire reform process must be cautious and step by step. He cannot follow his will but must consider all interests and impacts.

Currently, looking at the court’s personnel structure, most ministers are absolutely loyal royalists, questioning Tang Mo’s decisions is almost impossible. This means he finds it challenging to hear different voices and receive objective opinions. This makes him feel the weight on his shoulders, making the path of reform even more challenged. Considering the current court personnel structure, relying on a group of one hundred percent royalists to question Tang Mo is somewhat unrealistic.

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The state was not good today, so I just wrote this much...